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We’re catching up with the Clarks, one year
later. Featured last July, Will and Lois
Clark celebrated their 75th wedding
anniversary a few months ago, but, as they
discovered, it was not without its
challenges.
A “freak accident,” as Dr. Clark described it, threatened to
scuttle this long awaited event. They had
already celebrated their 104th and 101st
birthdays, respectively, but to this devoted
couple their milestone anniversary had even
greater significance.
Through a combination of courage,
persistence and determination to do
what was right for them, seek
appropriate help as needed, and with
the assistance and support of their
devoted family, Will and Lois did
achieve their goal.

Click "Play" to begin slide show.

The Story Begins
Will, a dentist, and Lois, a dental
hygienist fresh out of college, met when she
began working for one of the dentists in a
group practice Will had started in Iowa. “I
knew the first time I saw her,” Will
recalls, “that she was the one for me – not
as a dental assistant, but as a life
partner.” Lois adds, “For me the choice was
simple; he was the only one not married,”
she says with a mischievous twinkle in her
eye, then reaching over to pat her husband’s
knee. “We were an unlikely couple. Will
loves sports and the outdoors – hiking,
bicycling, horseback riding, golf – you
name, he excelled at it. I prefer to stay
indoors and avoid exertion of any kind – I
particularly dislike physical exercise and
not even Will could get me to do it in all
these years. On our first date, he took me
out in a rowboat on the lake in our town.
After about 10 minutes, I asked him to take
me back to shore. I then proceeded to the
trolley to go home, despite Will’s
suggestion that it wasn’t that far and we
could walk. He came along on the trolley
nevertheless, and it’s been like that ever
since. He goes out and does his thing, and I
wait contentedly at home.”
They married, and Will soon discovered that Lois
was a frugal homemaker. “I am cheap,” Lois
interjects cheerfully. “If I can pinch a
penny, I will.” Adds Will: “I got lucky. I
used to have to buy her things she wouldn’t
buy for herself, and she never demanded
anything.” Lois has the last word: “We
couldn’t be living as well as we are today
if we hadn’t been frugal. It all paid off in
the end.” That’s sound advice in these
financially challenging times.
Will celebrated his 38th birthday at home with
his wife and three young children, and then
came an unwelcome greeting. “On this, the
very last day that I was eligible, I was
drafted,” Will says. He spent three years
in the Pacific while Lois reared the
children and kept things going smoothly at
home. “But it wasn’t easy,” she admits.
“Letters could take weeks or months, and I
never knew if he was dead or alive.” But
Will was not going to let a little thing
like WWII come between him and his family,
and he survived despite injuries. Will is a
very determined, disciplined man.
“After the war we picked up where we had left off
and lived the typical American lifestyle; in
our later years we traveled as often as
possible – we love to travel.” Also like
many of their generation, they began to
spend the winter months in a warmer climate
and eventually moved to make it their
permanent home. But they were equally at
home in an RV or later a van, and would
“take off on a moment’s notice,” Lois says.
“We would be having breakfast and talking
about something, such as Mt. Rushmore, and
look across the table at each other and the
next thing we knew we were quickly packing
and off we went!” At 104 Will is still
driving his van, “even in Los Angeles on the
freeways,” he reports, on trips to visit his
son.

The "Freak Accident"
Will and Lois lived independently in their
own apartment, and liked it that way. Then
late last summer, Lois slipped getting out
of bed in the morning and fell between the
bed and the night table. Will describes:
“Her leg was caught beneath her, and she was
in a great deal of pain. I called the
manager’s office for help to lift her up,
which was all she needed at that point, but
he refused and called 911 instead.
Frustrated and unable to bear seeing his
beloved wife in so much distress, Will
attempted to pick her up himself, and in the
process herniated a disc in his back. Now
they were both in tremendous pain when the
emergency crew arrived. Will refused any
care, insisting that they focus on Lois, who
was taken to the hospital and required
surgery and physical therapy. Their children
immediately began taking “shifts” – a week
at a time – to be with them. Eventually,
Will underwent surgery also. “I was in
excruciating pain,” he confides, “but I
wanted to be sure Lois was getting all the
care and attention she needed. That’s what
was most important to me.”
They both came through their surgeries with
“flying colors,” but were told by their
doctors that they would never be able to
live independently again. Will dug in his
heels, so to speak, and flatly refused to
even consider another alternative, despite
the best efforts of his kids to find a
suitable alternative. “For one thing, Will
said, “we needed a place where we could have
our king-sized bed and our belongings. We
had brought them with us, things we’ve had
all our married life, and some family
heirlooms we weren’t going to give them up.”
And then there was the anniversary. Will
had wanted a large celebration, but reset
his sights on just having Lois released from
rehab and home by November. They both worked
hard at it – and Lois, with Will’s constant
urging and encouragement, reluctantly began
physical therapy. And so exercise, which
she had successfully avoided, became the
linchpin to their plan. “And Lois did it!”
Will says proudly. She didn’t want to, but
she knew she had to if we were ever to be
together again. I couldn’t stand living
apart from her – I just won’t do it.”

All is Well
Their story has a happy ending. They
“sprung” Lois just in time to celebrate
their anniversary with their family and made
a deal with their son: they would consider
looking for another apartment, after New
Year’s. Fortunately, their doctor
recommended a wonderful retirement community
with private apartments and yet hotel-like
amenities. “It’s not a ‘facility’” Will
says. In fact, it’s more like a five-star
hotel with a fitness center – which they
both use now – restaurants and a computer
lab. Will immediately signed up for a brain
fitness course. “It was grueling. I had to
go at a specified time every day, and we’re
not used to that.” But of course, he
completed the course, again “with flying
colors.”
They have a lovely two bedroom apartment that
accommodates their king-size bed, a good
size kitchen, a den for Will – who is active
on his computer – and most importantly a
separate guest suite.
“We love having the kids here,” Lois says.
Terry, their oldest child, adds that he and
his wife spend more time with his parents
than they do at home in California!” “This
is a great place for them,” he adds. It’s a
perfect, working out for a very special
couple. They are happy, healthy once again
and Will is still driving. “While Dad was
recuperating from surgery, I suggested that
we trade vehicles, and he was driving my
Camry,” Terry tells. “One day I got a call
from him saying, ‘I want my van back.’”
Will and Lois wanted to take to the road
again, albeit on shorter, local jaunts.

Respecting the privacy of this centenarian
and all centenarians on our website, we ask
all media (or other businesses) to please
direct inquiries to Lynn Adler:
adler@ncap100s.org.

1998-2013 National Centenarian Awareness Project & Lynn Peters
Adler, J.D.No material, in whole or in part, may be reprinted
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